Standardization is the key to repeatability and reproducibility. It provides invaluable guidance to employees and provides smooth results. However, over-standardization can create an environment that is not conducive to advancements and change. Clinging to the status quo doesn’t leave many opportunities for creativity. There is a fine line between controlling variation and preventing innovation. Read the entire article

How to make money with the money beltSome of the major benefits of practicing Six Sigma are cost savings and cycle time reduction. Industries are sold on the Six Sigma methodology because it is proven to improve processes often resulting in an improved bottom line. But what about the times when a process improvement doesn't yield visible financial results?

All too often, the business case and sustainability are not revisited long after project closure and the savings are never fully realized. Additionally, it can be somewhat impossible to identify savings unless all other variables stay the same which never occurs on this planet. Full article

Common Process Improvement Failure ModesBy Emilie Gerhart

What if there was a manual regarding what not to do in a process improvement project? How much do you remember about the Stress-Strain curve? It turns out that a process improvement project can resemble a metal spring and its associated Stress-Strain curve during its lifecycle. An article from The Wall Street Journal by Satya S. Chakravorty details a five-year research mission investigating the answer behind why process improvement programs fail. The article also elaborates on lessons learned. Read the full article and view graph